Matt Childs

Career Goals

I am currently employed as a computer programmer (which I enjoy immensely) – however I would like to teach history someday at either the high school or college level.

Why APU?

I chose APU because it gives me the chance to work one on one with faculty who are genuinely interested in their students. It’s rare to find a program that offers both flexibility and an environment very conducive to learning. My MAP is a hybrid degree mixing creative writing and history. This is definitely not a mix that I would have been able to work on in a more traditional environment. To me the best thing about it has been the ability to blend my work to create a much fuller and richer learning experience.

What have you enjoyed most about MAP?

The people – both faculty and fellow students. Wow – what an opportunity to meet some extraordinarily bright and thoughtful folks. I always look forward to our colloquiums as I am interested to hear about other folk’s projects and their research. Even though most of us are working on unrelated projects – there is a great sense of community among the students. We know how hard each of us works and that has created a bond among us.

Words of Wisdom for Future MAP Students

Take advantage of the relationship with your advisor and don’t be afraid to change directions. This is a learning process and I think that includes growth and change – so you may find yourself headed in a completely different direction from the one you started in.